Gladiolus hybrid plant &#39;Palampur Delight&#39;

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a novel hybrid plant named ‘Palampur Delight’ and belonging to the family Iridaceae said plant is a cross between two gladiolus varieties, ‘Her Majesty’ and ‘Eurovision’ and is an ornamental plant widely cultivated for beautiful flowers which are of commercial and export value, further said plant is propagated vegetatively by corms and hence can be maintained as a stable genotype

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a novel Gladiolus hybrid sp.named ‘Palampur Delight’ and belonging to the family Iridaceae. Thenovel plant being a hybrid, has been developed in a breeding programme.The novel plant ‘Palampur Delight’ is propagated vegetatively by cormsand hence can be maintained as a stable genotype. The plant of theinvention is a cross between two gladiolus varieties, ‘Her Majesty’ and‘Eurovision’ and is an ornamental plant widely cultivated for beautifulflowers which are of commercial and export value.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Gladiolus is a herbaceous bulbous plant grown for its beautifulflowers of different colour, shades and shapes throughout the world.Gladiolus belongs to the Family Iridaceae, Order Liliales and ClassMonocotyledon.

[0003] Gladiolus is one of the important cut flowers throughout theworld. The commercial cultivation is wide spread in temperate, tropicaland subtropical climates. The demand of new varieties with bettercolour, quality flowers, and planting materials is always existing inthe floriculture trade.

[0004] The modern garden cultivators gladiolus come from diverse geneticparentages. It has cumulative heterozygosity for many charactersinherent with complex genetic constitution. In gladiolus, diverseparents are crossed together and the cultivars and the species thatdiffer widely in chromosome numbers are also cross-fertile. In thepresent invention, the desirable strains obtained in F₁ generation wereperpetuated vegetatively without being segregated in the followinggenerations, so that the cultivars which are available today may be F₂,F₃ to F₈ or so of a particular cross further blended with some extraparents at nearly every generation. Thus they are not allowed tosegregate freely in further generations because it is desirable to growthe plants asexually. Because of this reason, now the available moderncultivars have become so complex that the offspring obtained by crossingthem, even two seedlings, do not appear similar [(Misra, 1975) GladiolusBr. Assn. Newsletter, No.12, pp.2-5].

[0005] The Applicants collected germplasm of different cultivars andhybrid varieties of gladiolus from National Botanical Research InstituteLucknow, India as per the list of gladiolus cultivars grown in India anddescribed in the bulletin of ‘gladiolus’ Economic Botany InformationService by Sharma et al. published by the Director National BotanicalResearch Institute Lucknow, 1988. Germplasm of gladiolus was alsocollected from Netherlands in 1991 and various nurseries of Kalimpong,Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. The record of the collected germplasm ofgladiolus was maintained in the accession register of the FloricultureDivision of the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT),Palampur, India.

[0006] The applicants initiated a breeding program to develop bettertypes of gladiolus hybrids suitable to wide range of climaticconditions, and having wide range of characteristics such as bettercolour, increased number of florets and spike length as per theinternational standards, better yield of corms and cormels, tolerant tothe common diseases etc. The collected germplasm of gladiolus wasplanted in the experimental field of IHBT for their propagation andmultiplication. In this breeding programme conventional breeding method(hybridization) was used. More than 100 cross combinations were made byusing distinct varieties such as ‘Oscar’, ‘Jester’, ‘Snow Princess’,‘Eurovision’, ‘Ballerina’, ‘King Liar’, ‘Cherry Blossom’, ‘Her Majesty’,‘Green woodpecker’, ‘Friendship’, ‘Vink's Glory’, ‘Aldebaran’, ‘RedBeauty’, ‘Top Brass’, ‘Copper King’, ‘Bonfire’, ‘White Goddess”, SunnyBoy’, ‘Tropic Sea’ and ‘Friendship Pink’ etc.

[0007] Color description of some of the parentage as described in NAGCBulletin.

[0008] ‘Oscar’: Turkey red, throat blotched sulphur yellow.

[0009] ‘Green Woodpecker’: Pea Green, throat blotched pea green spottedruby red.

[0010] ‘Eurovision’: Signal red, throat streaked pea green.

[0011] ‘Friendship Pink’: Dawn Pink, throat blotched pea green havingsplashes ruby red.

[0012] ‘Aldebaran’: Straw Yellow and throat bloched signal red.

[0013] ‘Friendship’: Clear pink with yellow throat

[0014] ‘Jester’: Ruffled, deep Yellow petals and bright red blotches

[0015] ‘Her Majesty’: Ruffled, Blue violet with darker edges and whitethroat

[0016] ‘Snow Princess’: White

[0017] ‘Eurovision’: Light Vermillion with white veins

[0018] ‘Purple King’: Purple, rich in colour with white picottee edges,white marks deeper in the throat

[0019] These parentage plants are grown in India for more than 25 years.Details regarding these plants have been published and these plants areavailable to the public. The Applicants herewith enclose a few documentsthat shows that the parentage plants are well known and are available tothe public.

[0020] As the aim is the production of seed of known parentage,emasculation in first three flowers in a selected spike is done beforethe opening of the flowers and stigma becomes receptive. Anthers areremoved carefully from each flower. Emasculated flowers were coveredwith butter paper bags used for breeding purposes. Pollination was donein the emasculated flowers next day morning with in 24-30 hours with thepollens of the desired parents in the month of April-May 1991. The seedswere collected from mature pods in the month of August-September andwere sown in beds under open field conditions and covered with drygrasses for moisture preservation in December 1991. The resultantseedlings were space planted in the field at Palampur in March-April1992.

[0021] Many seedlings came out from a single cross combination. Theseplants were critically evaluated and tagged as per the desired colourcombinations, growth and flowering parameters. The corn and cormels ofthe selected hybrid plants were replanted continuously four years in thefiled for further evaluation and multiplications. Based on the superiorperformance for attractive colour combination, compactness of flowerspike, number of flowers per spike, length of flower spike, Number ofcorm and cormels per plant evaluation and selection of superior qualityhybrids were made.

[0022] Thus, the breeding program involved hybridisation of commonlyavailable gladiolus plants. In other words, the hybrids were developedby crossing parental genotypes involving sexual hybridization in thebreeding programme.

[0023] The program yielded a number of hybrid plants out of which onegenotype namely IHBT-GH-164 was selected and christened as ‘PalampurDelight’. The plant is a hybrid between ‘Her Majesty’ and ‘Eurovision’.This plant was found to have new colour, flower size, number of floretsper spikes, length of flower spikes, better yield of corm and cormelsand less prone to common diseases. Growing the plant on a commercialscale offers the horticulturists an improved and new variety, which canbe commercially cultivated.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The object of the present invention is to provide a new gladiolusgenotype christened as ‘Palampur Delight’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present invention relates to a novel hybrid plant named‘Palampur Delight’ and belonging to the family Iridaceae. The novelplant being a hybrid, has been developed in a breeding programme. Thenovel plant ‘Palampur Delight’ is propagated vegetatively by corms andhence can be maintained as a stable genotype. The plant of the inventionis a cross between two gladiolus varieties, ‘Her Majesty’ and‘Eurovision’ and is an ornamental plant widely cultivated for beautifulflowers which are of commercial and export value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

[0026]FIG. 1 is a photograph of field grown flower spike of IHBT-GH-164(‘Palampur Delight’) depicting decorative type flowers of Rose Purple(RHS-75D) with Fuchsia Purple (RHS-67A) colour at the edges of thepetals and Greenish White (RHS-157D) lip petal.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0027] Thus, the invention provides a new genotype christened as‘Palampur Delight’. This plant has been developed through plannedbreeding experiments conducted at Institute of Himalayan Resources,(IHBT) Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India with defined aim to developsuperior gladiolus genotypes. For this purpose, gladiolus varieties werecollected from different sources and grown in the fields at Palampur,India for facilitating breeding program. The emasculation andpollination in different varieties were carried out during the months ofApril-May 1992. The seeds were collected in July-August 1992 and sown inbeds under open field conditions and covered with dry grasses inDecember 1992. The resultant seedlings were space planted in the fieldat Palampur in March-April 1993. The corms and cormels of survivinghybrid plants were replanted continuously four years for screening andmultiplication.

[0028] Based on the superior performance for attractive colourcombination, compactness of flower spikes, number of flowers per spikes,length of flower spikes, number of flowers remaining open at a time,number of corm and cormel production per plant, the plant of thisinvention (IHBT-GH-164) was selected for further observation andevaluation.

[0029] Considering the superior characteristics like excellent colour,number of flowers, compactness of flower spikes, plant height,ruffled-ness of flower petals, regeneration potential and freedom fromcommon diseases, it was asexually reproduced through corm and cormels tomaintain purity.

[0030] The selected hybrid IHBT-GH-164 was christened as ‘PalampurDelight’ and grown at row distance of 30 cm and plant to plant distanceof 15 cm for four consecutive years to study its growth and floweringperformance and multiplication. Data were recorded on randomly selectedtwenty plants every year. The hybrid IHBT-GH-164 maintained uniformityin its growth and flowering performance.

Evidence of Uniformity and Stability

[0031] The hybrid IHBT-GH-164 has remained stable and uniform for itsmorphological characters and showed consistency in performance forvarious growth and flowering parameters during its evaluation andvegetative multiplication since 1993. Throughout the evaluation periodof IHBT-GH-164 no variants were found from the normal population.

[0032] The genotype IHBT-GH-164 possesses standard bi color decorativetype flowers of Rose Purple (RHS-75D) with Fuchsia Purple (RHS-67A)colour at the edges of the petals. The lip petal is Greenish White(RHS-157D). The flower petals are thick and ruffled which is quite clearfrom FIG. 1.

[0033] The genotype IHBT-GH-164 is distinct in regeneration potential.

[0034] The plant of invention ‘Palampur Delight’ is thus a new anddistinct hybrid plant, having the following combination of characters:

[0035] (a) Type: Standard

[0036] (b) Days to flower: 85.5 days

[0037] (c) Number of spikes/plant: 1.68

[0038] (d) Length of the flower spike: 125 cm

[0039] (e) Number of flowers/spike: 16.4

[0040] (f) Flower colour: Bi-colour, Rose Purple (RHS-75D) with FuchsiaPurple (RHS-67A) colour on petal's edges. Lip petal Greenish White(RHS-157D).

[0041] (g) Type of petals: Petals thick and ruffled.

[0042] (h) Number of flowers remains open at a time: 6.51

[0043] (i) Longevity of the 1^(st) flower: 2.86 days

[0044] (j) Diameter of 1^(st) flower: 12.1 cm

[0045] (k) Longevity of the spike: 8.56 days

[0046] (l) Number of corms/plant: 1.83

[0047] (m) Diameter of corms: 6.04 cm

[0048] (n) Number of cormels/plant: 96.5

Objective Description of the Genotype ‘Palampur Delight’

[0049] The following is an objective description of the new variety:

[0050] 1. Genus: Gladiolus

[0051] 2. Species: Hybrid sp.

[0052] 3. Family: Iridacae

[0053] 4. Order: Liliales

[0054] 5. Class: Monocotyledon

[0055] 6. Common name: Gladiolus/Sword Lily

[0056] 7. Plant height: 143.5 cm

[0057] 8. Growth habit: Erect, uniform

[0058] 9. Stem diameter: 1.21 cm

[0059] 10. Number of leaves/plant: 7.36

[0060] 11. Height of leaves: 60.3 cm

[0061] 12. First flowering: 85.5 days

[0062] 13. Type of flowers: Standard

[0063] 14. Number of spikes/plant: 1.68

[0064] 15. Length of the flower spike: 125 cm

[0065] 16. Number of flowers/spike: 16.4

[0066] 17. Flower colour: Bi-colour, Rose Purple (RHS-75D) with FuchsiaPurple (RHS-67A) colour on petal's edges. Lip petal Greenish White(RHS-157D).

[0067] 18. Type of petals: Petals thick and ruffled

[0068] 19. Number of flowers remains open at a time: 6.51

[0069] 20. Longevity of the 1^(st) flower: 2.86 days

[0070] 21. Diameter of 1^(st) flower: 12.1 cm

[0071] 22. Longevity of the spike: 8.56 days

[0072] 23. Number of corms/plant: 1.83

[0073] 24. Diameter of corms: 6.04 cm

[0074] 25. Number of cormels/plant: 96.5

[0075] 26. Growing Conditions: The plants are grown at open sunny sitesand can be grown in a wide variety of soils. However, they require deep,well-drained sandy loam soils having pH around 6.0 to 7.0 for propergrowth and flowering.

[0076] 27. Temperatures: The day temperature could be between 15° C. to20° C.

[0077] 28. Leaves: In a mature plant, leaves are attached to the stem inopposite fashion and have dark green color.

[0078] 29. Number of leaves: 5 to 9

[0079] 30. Shape of the leaves: The leaves are sword-shaped phyllode,clustering at the swollen stem base, equivalent in 2-ranks, prominentlyribbed, radical and cauline.

[0080] 31. Description of reproductive parts: Flowers 2-whorled with sixperianth segments, attached to a funnel-shaped cup shaping into a bentfloraltube, hermaphrodite, trimerous, irregular, medianly zygomorphic,sessile and often protandrous and epigynous, born to one side on asimple or branched inflorescence subtended by two lanceolate, leaf-likevalves. The flower is somewhat tubular and possesses six, colouredperianth segments (sepals and petals together), arranged in two whorls.The inflorescence is a spike, with the flowers arranged on the centralaxis in a single or two rowed symmetrical display, progressing from baseto tip. Stamens 3, placed opposite to the outer whorl of the petals,extrose, epiphyllous, inserted below throat, bithecous, dehiscing byvertical slits, filaments distinct and basifixed. Gynoeciumtricarpellary and syncarpous, having inferior ovary with axileplacementation; style long, slender and simple with typically hinge-likecreased trifid stigma and petaloid.

[0081] 32. Fruits and Seeds: Fruits oblong-ellipsoid to obtuselytriangular, loculicidal capsule with 3 chambers each having 2 rowsmostly with winged seeds.

[0082] 33. Fragrance: NO Fragrance

[0083] 34. Mode of reproduction: Vegetatively by corms and cormels.

[0084] As in gladiolus plants, the diameter of flowers and rufflednessof petals are considered for its classification, the Applicants havegiven the same while describing the shape and dimensions of the petals.

[0085] The hybrid was raised through conventional method of breeding.Seeds produced by hybridization of different parents were sown in thefield to raise hybrid plants. After considering quality parameters someof the promising plants were selected for further multiplication. In thesecond year onwards, selected hybrids were multiplied and maintainedvegetatively by corm and cormels. After hybridization, the hybrids aremultiplied vegetatively since 1992.

[0086] The colour specifications of the flower parts distinguishing‘Palampur Delight’ from others within the same botanical and marketclass have been incorporated according to R.H.S. Colour Chart publishedby The Royal Horticultural Society, 80 Vincent Square, London S W1P 2PE,1995. RHS Color chart is an internationally accepted color chart foridentifying/referring colors of plants or plant parts. Thedistinguishing characteristics are compared with other varieties of samebotanical and market class emphasize the distinctiveness of ‘PalampurDelight’. The hybrid is a cross between two gladiolus varieties, ‘HerMajesty’ and ‘Eurovision’.

[0087] The genotype IHBT-GH-164 (‘Palampur Delight’) was bred at theInstitute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) under the programmeof development of new varieties of gladiolus.

[0088] The present invention includes the novel and distinct gladiolusplant christened as ‘Palampur Delight’ and characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

[0089] (a) The hybrid is a cross between two gladiolus varieties, ‘HerMajesty’ and ‘Eurovision’.

[0090] (b) The hybrid having Standard type of flowers.

[0091] (c) The hybrid having bi-colour flowers of Rose Purple (RHS-75D)with Fuchsia Purple (RHS-67A) colour at the edges of the petals. Lippetal Greenish White.

[0092] (d) The hybrid having thick and ruffled petals.

[0093] (e) The hybrid takes 84 days to flower.

[0094] (f) The average number of flower spikes/plant is 1.68.

[0095] (g) The average length of flower spikes is 125 cm.

[0096] (h) The average number of flowers per spikes is 16.4.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct gladiolus plant called‘Palampur Delight’ and substantially as shown and described.